Stamp



A118- 30, 1960 s. M. wElssMAN ETAL 2,950,676

STAMP Filed May l5, 1957 2 Sheets-Shea? l Aug. 30, 1960 s. M. wElssMAN ETAL STAMP Filed May l5, 1.957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Skokie, and Simon L. I-Iaimes, Glencoe, Bl., assignors to Bankers & Merchants, Ine., Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 15, v1957, Ser. No. 659,306

2 Claims. (Cl. 1013334) The 'present invention pertains to an improved selfinking stamp.

The many uses of self-inking stamps are well known. By self-hiking is meant that type of stamp in which a spring-loaded handle member may depress a stamp reel from a position of rest on a'n inking pad to the surface of the article to be marked by means of Va guided 'opover movement. Self-inking stamps are found in the ordinary business oiiice for dating incoming correspondence as well yas for a variety of other uses. The popularity of the selfservice food mart has also serv'edvto increase the widespread use of self-inking stamps which are used to mark the individual items of boxed or canned food, whereby the price may be readily made known to the customer without the need for inquiring from store personnel.

Continuous' use of self-inking stamps, however, will, obviously, readily deplete the ink supply disposed on the ink pad which forms a portion of the stamp. Consequently, the pad must be changed or ink applied to the dry pad at regular intervals. Either operation is timecbnsuming and messy, resulting 'oftentimes in spillage of ink and staining of the fingers and clothing of the person using the stamp.

It is an object, therefore, of this invention to provide an improved self-inking 'stamp which possesses its own ink reservoir. d

lt is a further object of this invention to provide an improved self-inkin'g stamp having a self-contained ink reservoir, which stamp varies slightly from the wellknown self-inking stamp design whereby a manufacturer may fabricate the 'improved stamp with a minimum of retooling or other required 'changes in manufacturing techniques.

It is a still further obect of this 'invention to provide an improved self-inking stamp which will substantially reduce the time necessary for replenishing the ink supply of the stamp 'pad resulting in large savings 'in time on the part of the person using the saine.

It is yet 'another object of this invention to .provide an improved self-inking stamp vin which .a depleted ink reservoir cartridge may readily be removed and a new cartridge substituted therefor in a matter of seconds without danger of ink spillage or soiling the hands Vof the stamp user.

The above and other objects of this invention will become more apparent Vfrom the following detailed description read in the light of the accompanying drawing and appended claims.

ln one embodiment of this invention, 'a stamp cage 'portion having an ink pad secured Yin a recess formed therein in a cage top portion is provided. A Yhandle member is spring biased so as to assume an extended position away from the underlying cage portion. The latter handle portion has opposed dependent arms secured thereto which slidably engage opposed sides 'of-the stamp cage and lis guided in the course of its reciproeal movement by means of a telescopically engaged guide post secured to the 'top nited States Patent O 2,950,676 Patented Aug. 30, 1960 surface of the cage. A stamp reel-engaging pin member traverses both the cage sides and the handle arms and is reciprocally moved bythe handle in the normal course of stamp operation.

The above stamp construction is common and well known in the art. It has been found that, if an elongated handle were employed and if a novel valved ink cartridge were disposed therein, such a 'self-inking' stamp would possess its own ink supply and would enable the stamp to function for extremely long periods of `time without the necessity of replenishing the ink supply on the 'stamp ink pad.

Accordingly, the self-inking stamps provided by this invention utilize elongated handle members which are hollow so that an ink cartridge member may be disposed therein. The cartridge member is also partially disposed in the center guide post secured to the top surface of the stamp cage. In one embodiment of the provided invention a spring-loaded val-ve member iis disposed in the bottom of the cartridge disposed in the center post and hollow handle of the provided self-hiking stamp. The latter valve is opened only when a spring-loaded button disposed at the distal end limit of the stamp handle is depressed when the handle member is in the actuated, or down, position whereby the ink cartridge val-ve member is forced into the open position. The ink 'cartridge is disposed in close proximity 'to the ink pad and a passageway interconnects the latter two stamp elements. Consequently, when it is desired that the ink pad of Vthe provided stamp be replenished with Aink, a button disposed in the handle is pushed with the handle in the actuated 'or stamping position, thereby opening an ink cartridge valve dlowing ink to llow into -th'e underlying ink pad. Upon release of the spring-loaded button, the ink cartridge valve immediately returns to the closed position.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective View of one embodiment of the provided self-hiking stamp;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of an upper portion of the stamp member illustrated in Fig. l illustrating the valve member of the depicted ink cartridge in the closed position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the ink cartridge valve in the open position and Vthe springloaded push button in fthe depressed valve-opening position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken online '4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View t'a'ken 'on line 5-'5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of 'an inlc pad which may be employed in the provided stamp; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspectiverview ror' the Aink 'cartridge utilized in Figs. '2 and. 3 of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. l, the numeral l0 designates `a 4self-inking 'stamp which from Vall external appearances is of somewhat the same construction as those lself-hiking stamps which are well 1Known in the art. An unusual structural feature which the illustratedrstamp Vpossesses comprises the elongated handle Y12. The latter handle is securely 'joined to the stamp depending yoke portion "14 having opposed Varm portions 16. The stem handie'and yoke 'are 'mounted over the usual type of stamp cageflS having opposed slotted side portions 2'0. The grooves 22 'in the opposed cage sides guide the movement of a transverse pin member 245 which is secured to Tthe opposed amis V16 `of the stamp Iyoke 121. The yoke arm'sl are slotted as at l26 to allo'w 'lateral movement of the pin 24.n tl1e course of the stamp handle and yokereciprocal movement relative to the `cage 18. .Itis further .apparent from Fig. 1 that Yhandle guide .post I7..is telescopically received Within handle 12 in the course of the handle travel will project through opening 34 in the bottom of the illustratedV cage for purposes of being applied to an article to be stamped. f

The portions of the self-inking stamp thus far described are well known in the art. Self-inking is believed to be an appropriatedescriptive term for the provided stamp. In the position of rest illustrated in Fig. l that portion of the stamp reel 30 which is to mark desired goods is in a positionabutting against the ink pad 32. Upon depressing the handle 12, the stamp reel 30 will reverse position 180, and that portion abutting against the ink pad will project through opening 34 in the bottom of the stamp cage 18 and stamp any article disposed therebeneath.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and V3, it will be noted that both the center post 17 aixed to the top surface'of the cage 18, and over which the handle 12 is telescopically guided, and the handle 12 itself are hollow. Both the center post 17 and the handle 12 are seen to comprise concentric, telescopically arranged cylinders. A coil spring member 36 may be employed to resiliently urge the handle portion 12 and attached yoke 14 of the provided stamp away from the underlying cage and post portion of the stamp.

Thus, in the normal position of rest indicated in Fig. 2, the handle 12 of the provided stamp will he in the extended position until ya stamping action is desired, whereupon coil spring 36 will be compressed by urging the handle, the yoke and stamp reel 30 of the provided stamp in a downward direction.

As is also most clearly seen from Figs. 2 yand 3, the concentric hollow-chamber-dened by the handle and center post 17 of the provided stamp enables an ink cartridge 38 to he disposed therein. The exterior appearance of the latter cartridge may be most clearly seen from the perspective view of Fig. 7. The cartridge 38 is possessed of a spring-loaded valve 40 disposed in the lower end limit of the cartridge, which is positioned against valve seat 42 in the normal position of rest by means of coil spring 44. Coil spring 36 snugly engages the periphery of cartridge 38 whereby stamp 10 may be inverted and cartridge 38 Vwill remain in the position illustrated.

. VAs seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the upper end limit of the stamp handle 12 is internally threaded at 46 for purposes of engaging knob member 48 which defines the central portion of the distal end limit of the provided stamp. The central portion of the knob 48 houses a spring-loaded button 50 which is resiliently urged away from the handle interior by means of a coil spring 52. The spring yand button are housed in knob recess 54 as illustrated. In order to retain the spring-loaded button 50 to the knob 48, a spring lock Washer 56 is provided which engages an-annular recess 58 disposed adjacent the lower distal end limit of the illustrated button 50. The manner in which the washer 56 retains the button 50 to the knob 48 is apparent from the sectional view of Fig. 4.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that, in the normal position of rest,'that is, when the stamp is in the inoperative position, the cartridge 38, which comprises an ink reserlvoir has its upper'end limit spaced a predetermined distance from the lower distal end of the spring-loaded button 50. The latter interval comprises the distance the handle 12 telescopically moves downwardly over guide post 17. At the end of this latter movement, the lower distal end of the button 50 is disposed adjacent the cartridge upper end. In the inoperative position, the valve 40 of the provided ink cartridge rests, in the closed position, on a tranverse pin'member 60 which serves to fasten the center post 17 to a Ysecuring collar 62 which has an annular recess at 64 for purposes of engaging ink pad 32 as will be more apparent from Fig. 6. The portion of the ink pad 32 engaged by the securing collar 62 is a raised annular portion 66 most clearly seen in Fig. 6. The securing collar also frictionally Vinterlocks with the top surface. portion of cage 18 by means of annular ange 68.

The self-inking stamp 12 may function in its ordinary well-known manner until the impression left thereby indicates that the ink pad is being depleted of ink. .Such a condition would rapidly be attained in a chain food store where stamps such as that illustrated are used to mark a large number of canned or packaged items.

To replenish the pad ink supply, all that the user of the provided self-inking stamp 12 need do is depress button 50 into the position illustrated in Fig. 3 while the handle member 12 of stamp 10 Vis in the lower or stamping operative position illustrated. As will be apparent from the latter gure, the button, because of its disposition against the cartridge upper end, will, in turn, force the entire cartridge in a downwardly direction so as to leave the valve opening defined byrvalve seat V42 and normally closed by the stationary valve 40 in an open condition, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Ink is then permitted to ow by gravity from the ink cartridge through interconnecting passageway 70 dened by the laperture in collar 62 into the underlying ink pad 32. The button is depressed until the operator believes a sufficient quantity of ink has been deposited on the pad. The desired time of depression will soon become known to the operators using the provided stamps. Upon the release of button 50, the spring 52 will immediately force the same into the raised position of Fig. 2 allowing the Vvalve spring 44 to raise the entire cartridge into the position of Fig. 2 and thereby once again enabling the illustrated valve 40 to assume the closed position relative to valve seat 42, stopping any further flow of ink.

It is thus apparent that an improved self-inking stamp has been provided which is possessed of its own ink reservoir. Consequently, the need for the application Vof ink to the ink pad after only a short period of use is eliminated. Each of the-provided ink cartridges will obviously hold a supply of ink enabling the provided stamp to function for extremely long periods of time before the cartridge ink supply is depleted. When depleted, all that need be done to insert a new cartridge 38 is to unscrew knob member 48 whereupon the cartridge 38 may be readily removed and a new cartridge substituted therefor. VThe latter replacement operation may be effected in a matter of seconds and does not *necessitate the handling Vofink and assures the avoidance of soiling the lingers and clothes of the stamp user.

It is apparent that the provided stamp utilizes many well-known components of stamps of this type. The cartridge provided for extending the ink supply is of 'simple and sturdy construction. To incorporate the latter new features into self-inking stamps of known design Vwould not require large expenditures of time or large expenditures for retooling. Y Y

We claim:

l. In combination, reciprocally movable stamp means or the like guided in a cage means and actuated by a hollow handle means, a hollow guidepost mounted on said cage means, said handle means being telescopically movable over said guidepost, reciprocally movable cartridge means disposed in said hollow guidepost, a fixedly of said cartridge means normally in a closed position,

depressible linger-engageable plunger means disposed in said handle means, said plunger means engaging said cartridge means when said plunger is in the depressed position causing relative movement between said cartridge means and said valve when said handle means and guidepost are in the telescoped position whereby said spring-loaded valve assumes an open position relative to said cartridge.

2. In a stamp construction, means for stamping or the like, frame means supporting said stamping means, lst hollow means engaging said frame means for reciprocally moving the same, second hollow means for guiding said first hollow means telescopically receivable Within said rst hollow means in the normal course of reciprocal movement of said latter means, iuid reservoir means disposed within said second hollow means, a valve means and a seat therefor in said reservoir for regulating the passage of uid therefrom, -a portion of said valve means projecting from said iluid reservoir means in the normal position of assembly, stop means for engaging said projecting valve means portion in the normal position of assembly, said reservoir and valve seat being movable relative to said valve means, and nger actuatable, reciprocally movable exteriorly accessible means mounted in said rst hollow means for engaging said ink reservoir and moving the same relative to said valve means therefor when said iirst and second hollow means are in telescopic engagement, said reciprocally movable means for engaging said reservoir being disposed in a distal end portion of said iirst hollow means whereby said valve means may assume an open position in the normal course of stamp means use by linger actuation.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,029 Garvey June 28, 1955 109,814 Fish Dec. 6, 1870 201,048 Roberts et al. Mar. 5, 1878 228,243 Ber-ridge June 1, 1880 1,073,340 Furman Sept. 16, 1913 1,281,978 Kelly Oct. 15, 1918 1,343,633 McPheters June 15, 1920 1,786,347 Kennedy Dec. 23, 1930 2,312,625 Catbey Mar. 2, 1943 2,819,668 McAneny Jan. 14, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 398,754 Great Britain Sept. 21, 1933 

